Fires force mass evacuations on Spain's Canary Islands

Bushfires sweeping across Spain's Canary Islands have ravaged thousands of hectares and forced authorities to evacuate about 11,000 people.

Spanish Environment Minister Cristina Narbona announced a state of "maximum alert" and said additional planes were being sent to the picturesque archipelago off Africa's western coast to battle the flames.

The fires, which broke out on Friday, have covered 24,000 hectares on the islands of Gran Canaria and Tenerife after being fanned by strong winds.